The excitement of the final day started in the ‘Efficiency Challenge Electric Vehicle Races’ organized by TUBITAK. Stating that the students are designing the technology of the future here, TUBITAK President Hasan Mandal said, “If you have a lot of money, you will use technology, but the important thing is to produce, develop and design technology. Our students said that they are ready for it.”
The final day of the International Efficiency Challenge Electric Vehicle Races started with great excitement at Korfez Racetrack in Korfez district of Kocaeli. 36 teams at high school level and 65 teams at university level from many provinces of Turkey participated in the races. Having completed all their preparations, the teams fought hard to achieve the best grade.
21 OF 36 TEAMS QUALIFIED TO COMPETE
Twenty-one of the 36 high school-level teams that applied for the competition were entitled to take the track after the race committee passed the tests. TUBITAK President Hasan Mandal also followed the high school level races that started in the morning. Mandal visited all the competitors on the track and wished the students success. Stating that their aim is to prepare students for the future, Mandal said, “Today is the last day of the competition, our high school students will go to the second round. The excitement is at its peak, they took the track for the first time yesterday, they are experienced today. They know the track. They are much more excited today, they have learned their lessons from yesterday and determined their own strategies accordingly. These are very important issues and these are all things we want to see, here we just raced the car and came first, not fifth. The experience of our students is really valuable.”
‘IF YOU HAVE A LOT OF MONEY, YOU USE TECHNOLOGY, THE IMPORTANT THING IS TO PRODUCE TECHNOLOGY’
Stating that the experiences of the students who attended here are very valuable for them, Mandal said:
“There are high school participants from 22 provinces, these students are very valuable. These students will be the TOGGs of the future or those who will produce by-products, parts and components for TOGG. The experience and self-confidence they have gained here is very strong. They both have energy and came here to compete with ethical values. It is these young people who will design, develop and produce the technology of the future. I am not saying that they will use technology because if you have a lot of money, you will use technology, but the important thing is to produce, develop and design technology. Our students said they are ready for this and there is a great success even though they are competing for the first time.”
Erzurum Yakutlu Imam Hatip High School teacher Muzaffer Dinc said that the competition process was difficult for them and said, “We formed our team first. We chose our students according to their abilities while forming the team. We attended with 9 talented students. I am happy and proud to have brought my students together with the national technology move. Our students are the engineers of the future, and I am sure that these races will make great contributions to their future lives.”
‘We put into practice the theoretical education we received at school’
Balikesir University student Furkan Kurt stated that they gained a great deal of practical experience in the preparation process for the competition. “We both learn about the sector and work with different materials. Part of our vehicle is made of carbon fiber and another part is made of glass fiber. While these were shown in theory at school, we are happy to put them into practice. Our goal is to achieve degrees in these races in the coming years.”
Source: Sabah / Translated by Irem Yildiz